Game Notes: Iowa vs. Penn State

OPPONENT #4 PENN STATE at #3 IOWA (Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium)
DATE Saturday, Oct. 9
KICKOFF 3:05 p.m. (CT)
TELEVISION FOX
RADIO HAWKEYE RADIO NETWORK

1st and 10

1: The Hawkeyes are ranked No. 3 in the AP and Coaches polls, their highest ranking since Nov. 22, 2015 (#3). Iowa has two wins over ranked opponents (vs. #17 Indiana, 34-6; at #9 Iowa State, 27-17) this season and has won five straight against ranked opponents overall. Only Alabama (9) has more consecutive wins over ranked opponents.

2: Iowa and Penn State are meeting for the sixth time as ranked opponents, the third time in the last four years. The top five matchup is the sixth top-five matchup in Iowa football history, and the first at Kinnick Stadium since No. 1 Iowa defeated No. 2 Michigan, 12-10, in 1985.

3: Iowa has won its last 11 games. The Hawkeyes have outscored their last 11 opponents, 380-141, averaging 34.5 points per game offensively and allowing 12.8 ppg during the winning streak.

4: Iowa has won eight straight games against Big Ten opponents (2020-21) for the fourth time in program history. Iowa won 10 straight from 2001-02, eight straight from 2008-09 and eight straight in 2015.

5: Iowa has won 11 straight for the first time since opening the 2015 season with 12 straight wins. Iowa reached the Big Ten Championship game that season and accepted an invitation to the 2016 Rose Bowl game.

6: Iowa leads the country with 12 interceptions. The Hawkeyes have 76 interception since 2017, more than any team in the country. Six different Hawkeyes intercepted a pass in Iowa’s 51-14 win at Maryland, tying a school record for most players with an interception in a single game (vs. Wisconsin, 1982). The six interceptions are the most in a game since Iowa had a school-record seven interceptions vs. Wisconsin in 1982.

7: DB Riley Moss leads the Big Ten with three interceptions and leads the country with two interceptions returned for touchdowns (30, 55), both in Week 1. Iowa has turned 16 turnovers into 75 points in 2021. The Hawkeyes’ defense has scored 20 points (2 int. return TDs, one fumble return TD and 1 safety).

8: QB Spencer Petras has led Iowa to 11 consecutive wins. Petras is 177-293 with 2,031 passing yards during Iowa’s 11-game winning streak. He has thrown 15 touchdowns and three interceptions over the last 11 games. Petras is 11-2 as Iowa’s starting quarterback, matching the best winning percentage by a starting quarterback in program history (Brad Banks, 11-2, .846).

9: K Caleb Shudak has connected on 8-of-9 field goal attempts and is good on all 20 PAT tries. His only miss was the result of a bad snap. He connected on career highs in field goals (3) and extra points (6) in Iowa’s win at Maryland. He has a team-high 44 points, tied for eighth in the Big Ten. Shudak has 18 touchbacks on 31 kickoffs.

10: LB Jack Campbell ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 46 tackles. He had a career-high 18 tackles in Iowa’s Week 4 win against Colorado State, earning B1G Defensive Player of the Week honors.